LE 6 Rock Cycle (1)
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Mt San Antonio College *
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Course
1L
Subject
Geology
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
Pages
5
Uploaded by BailiffFrog3667
Lab Exercise 6 (LE6):
Rock Cycle
In this lab are instructions to perform the exercises and questions for you to answer. Keep track of your
answers in a separate document because you will submit them to the corresponding “quiz” on Canvas.
You are required to begin working on the LEs early in the week so that you have time to work out any
issues by communicating with your classmates and instructor through the Discussion Forum. Allow
3-5
hours to complete each LE. Last minute technical problems are not a valid excuse for late work. Late
work is not accepted.
Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and consistency in the exercises. If you notice an error,
post this information in the Discussion Forum and email your instructor so that corrections can be made.
Weekly schedule:
•
Mon-Fri - Begin working on LE's, Questions and needed clarification to the Lab exercises must be
submitted to the DF by Friday.
•
Fri - Minimum of 1 posting to the DF, continue working on LE's
•
Sunday - Review LE's, submit answers to quizzes and make final posts to DF
Earth’s Interior
Studying the Earth’s interior poses a significant challenge due to the lack of direct access.
However, the heat generated within the Earth drives many processes observed at the Earth’s
surface; because of that, an understanding of the Earth’s interior is essential. Volcanism,
earthquakes, and many of the Earth’s surface features are a result of processes happening within
the Earth.
Much of what we know regarding the Earth’s interior is through indirect means, such as using
seismic data to determine Earth’s internal structure. Scientists discovered in the early 1900’s that
seismic waves generated by earthquakes could be used to help distinguish the properties of the
Earth’s internal layers. The velocity of these waves (called primary and secondary waves, or P and
S waves) changes based on the density of the materials they travel through. As a result, seismic
waves do not travel through the Earth in straight lines; rather, they are reflected and refracted,
which indicates that the Earth is not homogeneous throughout.
The Earth’s interior consists of an inner and outer core, the mantle, and the crust. Located in the
center of the Earth is the inner core, which is very dense and under incredible pressure, and is
thought to be composed of an iron and nickel alloy. It is solid, and surrounded by a region of
liquid iron and nickel called the outer core. The outer core is thought to be responsible for the
generation of the Earth’s magnetic field. A very large portion of the Earth’s volume is in the
mantle, which surrounds the core. This layer is less dense than the core, and consists of a solid
that can behave in a plastic (deformable) manner. The thin outer layer of the Earth is the crust.
The two types, continental and oceanic crust, vary from each other in thickness, composition, and
density.
Learning Outcomes
After completing this exercise, you should be able to:
•
Diagram the rock cycle
•
Define what a mineral is and describe the major mineral families that make up most
rocks.
•
Describe the origin and characteristics of sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks.
•
Create a diagram of intrusive igneous rock bodies.
6. 1 The Rock Cycle
Go to
https://www.learner.org/series/interactive-rock-cycle/
. Here, you see an interactive exercise
on the rock cycle. Complete this exercise, including the Test Your Skills section, then answer the
following questions using the information provided in the interactive, as well as the information
provided in your textbook.
Question 1:
List the 3 main types or classes of rock.
Question 2:
Upon what are the differences between these 3 rock types based?
Question 3:
How is igneous rock formed?
Question 4:
How would you describe igneous rocks in terms of such characteristics as
appearance, granularity, hardness, density, color, pattern, etc.
Question 5:
How is sedimentary rock formed?
Question 6:
How would you describe sedimentary rocks in terms of such characteristics as
appearance, granularity, hardness, density, color, pattern, etc.
Question 7:
How is metamorphic rock formed?
Question 8:
How would you describe metamorphic rock in terms of such characteristics as
appearance, granularity, hardness, density, color, pattern, etc.
Under the title of WHAT TO LOOK FOR is a chart of key characteristics that can help you
identify rocks within the three main classes. Below are the images used in the chart, re-ordered.
Rock A Conglomerate
Rock B Limestone
Rock C Gneiss
Rock D Marble
Rock E
Baslat
Rock F
Obsidian
As you proceed through the interactive you will be asked to develop a rock collection. As you do
it, answer these questions:
Question 9:
Which rock in your “collection” is characterized as having “ribbonlike layers”?
Question 10:
Which “class or type” of rock would this example be?
Question 11:
Which rock in your “collection” would most likely be formed near oceans and
lakes?
Question 12:
Which “class or type” of rock would this example be?
Question 13:
Which rock in your “collection” would most likely exhibit gas bubbles?
Question 14:
Which “class or type” of rock would this example be?
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Question 15:
Which rock in your “collection” is more likely to be characterized as having a
“glassy surface?
Question 16:
Which “class or type” of rock would this example be?
Question 17:
Which rock in your “collection” was formed when limestone—a sedimentary
rock—was pushed down into the earth and subjected to intense heat and pressure for a long
period of time?
Question 18:
Which “class or type” of rock would this example be?
Question 19:
Which rock in your “collection” is the most common rock type in earth’s crust?
Question 20:
Which “class or type” of rock would this example be?
Question 21:
Which rock in your “collection” is made up of various sizes of particles (pebbles,
stones, and smaller particles)?
Question 22:
Which “class or type” of rock would this example be?
6. 2 Igneous Rock Features
Watch the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Y18ww1M91c&feature=emb_logo
Question 23:
Identify the igneous rock feature labeled in the image by capital letters A through
K: volcanic neck, dike, sill, stock, laccolith, batholith, lava flow, cinder cone. Some may occur
more than once.
A
B
C
E
F
G
I
J
K
6.3 Using Google Earth to Explore Igneous Features
Igneous intrusions such as plutons are large magma bodies that have crystallized into solid rock.
Regional uplift and erosion of the earth’s surface can expose portions of these plutons, and large
exposures that are over 100 km2 are called batholiths, and a small portion (less than 100 km2) of
a pluton exposed at the earth’s surface is called a stock. Test your knowledge of igneous rock
bodies with these questions using Google Earth.
24)
Type the following coordinates into the search bar in Google Earth: 33 48 14.24 N, 84 08
44.31 W. This is Stone Mountain, GA. Zoom in to an eye elevation of ~2400 ft for a
closer look. Based on the color, and assuming no color change has occurred due to
weathering at this location, which type of igneous rock is Stone Mountain?
a)
Mafic
b)
Felsic
25)
Zoom out to an eye elevation of ~10,000 ft so that you can see the entire mountain. Click
on the ruler icon to open up the ruler function. Select the Line tab, and change the map
length to kilometers. What is the longest length of exposed portion of Stone Mountain?
a.
3000 km
b.
260 km
c.
6 km
d.
2.6 km
26)
Based on your measurement of the longest dimension, Stone Mountain can be classified
as:
a.
batholith
b.
stock
27)
Type the following coordinates into the search bar in Google Earth: 64 58 45.54 N, 16 43
07.04 W. Zoom in to an eye elevation of ~12979 ft for a closer look. Based on the color,
which type of igneous rock is this?
a.
Mafic
b.
Felsic
28)
Zoom out to an eye elevation of 41,566 ft. Based on the proximity of the volcanic crater
(now containing a lake), the igneous rocks identified in the question above are:
a.
Extrusive
b.
Intrusive